I was listening to a lecture from my meditation teacher, Tara Brach, and she mentioned Mark Nepo’s book on The Exquisite Risk. I came across this quote from his work: “Whether through the patterns left in snow, geese honking in the dark or through the brilliant wet leaf that hits your face the moment you are questioning your worth, the quiet teachers are everywhere, pointing us to the unlived portion of our lives. When we think we are in charge,...

I’m finding that Physical Therapy is one of the most significant advancements in medicine, at least for me. When I had a knee injury in college, the doctors told me to rest and stay off my leg for a month. Today, they’d want me to ice it for a few days, start doing some stretching and see a PT to start working out in 4 days. Recently I’ve had a little bout with some dizziness and balance issues. After ruling...

One interesting thing that happens to me at parties is that when people discover I am a psychologist, they want to share some professional or personal issue to get my insight. It is an occupational hazard, and it happened again this past weekend. After being introduced to a fellow by a mutual friend, our conversation eventually turned to his concerns about his son, who did not seem to be doing well in his sales job. He was capable enough except...

Last Friday, we attended a “porch concert” in our friend Pam’s neighborhood. The concerts began during the pandemic and were a collective effort of the community to provide music outside and safely. Thankfully, the concerts continue. Friday night was Beatles night, and the Nowhere Men did not disappoint. Upon entering the driveway, there was a donation box, and I dropped in $20, assuming it was to defer costs for the musicians. As the evening wound down,  our host informed us...

A story in last weekend’s Wall Street  Journal, America’s Greatest Math Team Shares It Secrets, tells how a retired financial trader turned educator transformed an average-performing Florida High School into a mathematical powerhouse. Retired bond trader Will Frazier believed he could bring his financial acumen to improve mathematics education in public schools. He took a position teaching math at Buchholz High School and immediately formed a math team to participate in national competitions. He asked himself and others how best...